Since artificial intelligence technology started to become mainstream,
employees have reportedly been leaving the company to launch their own AI startups. Last week, a report claimed that two company
employees
working with
Google DeepMind AI division
were in talks with investors to establish an
AI startup
in Paris. Another report has now claimed that three more
researchers
left the company to launch their own AI startup.
Citing two people with direct knowledge of their plans and a securities filing, The Information reported that three Google researchers who helped develop AI that generates images and music recently left the company to launch Uncharted Labs AI startup.
“It’s the latest example of top researchers who faced bureaucratic delays in launching their AI products at Google and decided to capitalise on venture investors’ enthusiasm for new companies in the field,” the report said.
These Google’s former employees have raised $8.5 million out of a $10 million target, and they have met with potential investors including Andreessen Horowitz in recent months, one of the people was cited as saying.
Two employees in talks to open AI startup in Paris
Recently, Bloomberg reported that a team of Laurent Sifre and Karl Tuyls were engaged in discussions with potential investors regarding a substantial financing round to establish an AI startup in Paris. They are looking to raise over EUR 200 million ($220 million) for their proposed venture, which is tentatively named Holistic. Reportedly, both the researchers have submitted their resignations.
This is not the first time that Google employees have left the company to work on their AI startups. OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT and is regarded as bringing sophisticated AI technology to the masses, has former Google employees working for them.
When asked whether he was worried that Google researchers left the company to start rivals or to join others like OpenAI, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he did not have a problem with that because it was healthy.
“Googlers have left to create over 2,000 startups, last I counted, and I think that’s great. Some of them are cloud customers down the line for us. Some of them come back. I think it’s healthy,” he said.
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